Osgood



(No Model.) 2 Siieets-Sheet 1. r

v R. R. OSGOOD.

DREDGE.

No. 295,580. Patented Mar} 25, 1884.

\ V I @Q (No Model.) 2 Sheetssheet 2.

R. R. oseoob.

' DREDGE.

No. 295,580. Pa enteaMama, 1884.

QBMMQ AAMHH UNITED STATES" RALPH R. OSGOOD, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THEOSGOOD PATENT OFFICE.

' DREDGE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DREDGE.

$PECIPICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,580, dated March 25, 1884.

. Application filed May 12, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH R. Oseoon, of Albany, county of Albany, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredges, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in dredges and analogous machines, especially those wherein a turn-table is employed for the purpose of swinging the load from side to side.

Among the principal objects of my invention are the provision of simple, strong, and durablemeans calculated to enable the turntable to Withstand the heavy strains to which it is subjected in the various positions to which it may be turned; to transmit those strains to the bed or foundation on which the turn-table rests without interfering with the movements of the turn-table, and obviating the lateral crowding of the table against its track or way to connect the swinging chains with the turntable by simple and efficient springs, so that it may be moved and stopped with its load without shock or jar, and to provide a simple and efficient sheave for the backing-chain, the

same being mounted in a frame made movable about a vertical axis, so as to permit the outer part of the chain to swing withthe load from side to side and avoid cramping and crowding of the chain, thus making the latter run smoothly in all positions and with less wear and less power than ordinarily required. To accomplish these objects my improvements involve certain novel and useful arrangements or combinations of parts, peculiarities of construction, and principles of operation, all of which will be herein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a fragment of the bow of a dredge or other machine, showing a turn-table arranged for operation thereon in accordance with my invention, a portion of the top of the turntable being broken out so as to show the inclined strut with its friction-wheel, but omitting the top brace shown in the next figure. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, illustrating also the means I sheave for the backing-chain, and Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof.

In the three last-named figures the devices are shown detached from the other parts of the machine.

In all thefigures like letters of reference, wherever they part-s. 7

A is the forward part of the machine, upon which the turn-table is to be supported, usually upon a foundation, as B, applied in a solid and substantial manner.

0 is the turn-table, which may be made in sections or parts, as indicated. ably mounted and maintained upon th e foundation in the manner indicated-that is, by a circular flange, a, running in a track or groove or way provided for it in the foundation, and an overlapping annulus, b, bolted to the foundation. On the exterior of the foundation is a circular track, 0, upon which the frictionwheels--one of which is represented at d are made to run, the wheels cl being suitably axled upon the turn-table, and intended to permit the traveling thereof with reduced friction. This particular method of securing and mounting the turn-table has, so far, been substantially shown in a previous application for patent, and is not specially claimed herein.

For all essential purposes of the present invention the turn-table might be otherwise mounted and held in place.

On whatever plan or principle the turn-table is mounted, I provide the foundation with an interior track, 6, and secure to the under side of the turn-table a suitable strut, f, within which is mounted a frictionqvhecl, g, caloccur, indicate corresponding It is preferculated to run upon or in the track 6. The strut is suitably braced, as by the application of a brace, h, or other equivalent means, and the wheel and track are so shaped that the one will run smoothly upon the other without unnecessary'crowding or jamming, and the turntable, overhanging the foundation-track, protects it from foreign matter-the excavated mud. The strain brought upon the turn-table by the load, (and, in the case of a dredge or excavator, by forcing the dipper into the bank,) among other things, tends to crowd the table laterally, whereby too great friction is produced between the table and the devices employed for holding it in place on the foundation, interfering with the free movements of the turn-table and otherwise impairing the efficiency of the machine. By the application of the interior strut with its friction-wheel the lateral strain brought upon the turn-table is transmitted to the inner track, 8, through the strut, and this thrust is uniform for all positions of the load. The turn-table is thus better supported in all positions than in previous constructions, and is, by the wheel, enabled to revolve more easily and with much less friction. The side bearings of the table on the foundation are relieved of wear, and the table is rendered less liable to breakage or damage by excessive strains, as well as capable of being moved with less power, than heretofore required.

D D are the swinging chains by which the turn-table is revolved. These are guided by any suitable sheaves, as E E, and have heretofore been connected directly with the turntable. The result of this direct connection has been that the turn-table, with its load, is started or stopped too suddenly, causing unnecessary shock and strain. I obviate this by carrying the swinging chains through suit able coiled springs or buffers, asF F, by use of the eyebolts G G, or other equivalent means.

The springs are attached to the turn-table, and they afford a simple and effective preventive of the shock above alluded to. They may be of any approved pattern. WVith them the swinging chains may be moved as suddenly .and as rapidly as desired without the heretofore usual racking of the turn-table and connected parts of the machinery, and it may be suddenly arrested in like advantageous manner.

H H are the hinges for attachment of a boom. It has not been deemed necessary to show the boom or the dipper or other loadsupporting contrivance, as these may be of any pattern. I may also here remark that it is not intended to limit the improvements to use in connection with boom machines, for they may in some instances be advantageously employed in connection with cranemachines. 7

I isthe backing-chain, leading through the bow of the dredge or forward part of the machine. This is connected with the dipper-handle, (not shown,) and intended to control the backward movements of the dipper. With the usual hawser-holes applied to guide this chain through the bow, much difficulty is experienced, owing to the cramping of the chain as the load is swung from side to side, maklng it difficult to back the dipper'in many positions, and under all ordinary circumstances causing much wear and friction and consuming much unnecessary power. All this I obviate by mounting the guidingsheave K in a strong frame or crane, L, the latter being securely mounted upon the bow and capable of swinging about its vertical axis, (represented by the bolt M.) a I At N is a slip-sheave mounted upon a horizontal axis, 0, and capable of sliding thereon between the cap-squares 1? P, which are far enough apart to allow the backing-chain to be swung to any required position. The chain I is led over the sheave N and under the sheave K, as indicated. NVhen the load, carrying the backing-chain with it, is swung around, the crane L also swings, and the slip-sheave N moves on its axis, so'as to obviate any cramping in the backing-chain, and the'latter is thus made at all times to lead fair with the chain-sheave Q, over which it passes.

R represents the usual hoistingchain, and S a sheave on the turn-table for guiding it, the last-named sheave not being shown in Fig. 1.

The improvements arranged for operation as aboveset forth are found in practice to contribute largely and effectively to the free and proper working of the parts named, and to admirably answer the several purposes or objects of the invention, as before set forth.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a dredging-machine, the combination, with a foundation provided with an interior track, of a turn-table arranged over and around the track, and having secured thereto a diagonally-arr. nged strut carrying a wheel arranged to travelupon said track of the foundation, for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a dredging-machine, the combination, with a foundation provided with an interior track, of aturn-table arranged over and around the track, and having secured thereto a diagona lly-arranged strut with a wheel suitably braced and arranged to travel upon the said track of the foundation, for the purposes herein set forth.

3. In a dredging-machine, the combination of a turn-table provided at the forward end with springs or buffers F, and the swinging chains with eyebolts, the latter passed through the elastic buffers of the turn-table, substantially as shown and described.

4. Incombination with the swinging crane carrying the sheave, the slip-sheave mounted In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 10 above said crane, substantially as and for the have hereunto set my hand in the presence of purposes set forth. 1 two witnesses.

5. In combination with the backing-chain,

5 a sheave mounted inaswinging crane, L, with RALPH R. OSGOOD."

axial bearings above and below, adapted to 'move with said chain and to direct it with- Witnesses:

out cramping, substantially as and for the pur- JOHN BUOKLER,

poses set forth WORTH OSGOOD. 

